Time to haggle

In India, the markets are a shopaholic's dream. You can find just about anything and pay just about anything. There is never anything wrong with asking for a lower price if the stuff seems to be over-priced. Lord knows my Mom does that sooo well even though it irritates me to no end! :P Street markets, outdoor stalls, small shops and many independently owned marketplaces are havens for hagglers and in a culture that worships shopping, it’s only natural that the “bargain” be the Holy Grail.

But today I’m admitting this - I’m not good at haggling . Not at all! And, yes, needless to say- I’m sorta guilty of the same. Today I went shopping with Dad and I was at this local store checking out a pair of shoes when Dad after noticing my inability for a while, asked me with this astonished look- “You didn’t bargain?!?!”.

Well, I didn’t since the shoes were marked at a reasonable price and weren’t all that costly but since there wasn’t a sign suggesting it to be a “fixed price” shop so now I am having this feeling that I should have rather given it a try. Especially with the owner of the store being sooo cutee ;) I could have actually settled it for a much better price!! [*Sighs*] But, honestly speaking, whatever be the case, unfortunately I just don't seem to have the patience to bargain. And I don't go for just shopping. If I go shopping then it is to get that thing immediately.
As in, I go when I really need that stuff. For me, more than the money itself, time is money!

I too love a sale but when bargain-hunting, coupon clipping, or mastering the deal becomes the objective, you and your budget are likely headed for big trouble. I can’t tell you the number of people who have said, “But it was such a deal!” Really? A deal? Hmmmmm. If you’re spending money you don’t have – if you’re putting it on credit – it’s not a deal. If you’re buying something you don’t need, it’s not a deal. If it takes you three weeks, three months, or never to put what you bought to use, it’s not at all a deal sweetheart. But yes, it’s a deal when picking up a new book you’re dying to read for half price. A deal is getting something you really need or want at a significant savings, and being able to pay for it in cash.

So don’t be squeamish, get out there and try settling the price, if that's possible. Because the worst thing that could happen is that they say "no". However, if you ask in the right way, with the right strategy, and in the right circumstances, it's more than likely you will get a "yes" and leave the transaction with a bit more money in your pocket!

Personally I suck at haggling, but that’s a different thing and here in India it’s an art to haggle, and fixed prices are not a part of this artistic process. But how do you go about creating the next haggling masterpiece? I don’t know. I am notoriously uncomfortable negotiating bargains. However, if you only want to be moderately ripped off, you should follow these 5 timeless principles ;) I have tried them myself & guess what, they never fail!! :P

1). Never ever let the shopkeeper know that you really want something.
Give the impression that you’re just browsing, looking, and not really interested in buying anything.

2). Force yourself to leave if the merchant doesn’t give you a lower price.
As you walk toward the doors, 9 times out of 10 they will chase you down to offer a better price.

3). Remember, you are the client.
You have money in your pocket/checking account which the seller desperately wants. If they work on a commission (most of the time they are), they would rather sacrifice half of their take to make the sale. You have the power.

4). The haggle is not an argument.
You need to keep it cool while haggling. The more heated a discussion becomes, the less likely you are to get what you want. So be courteous and respectful in your dealings with all store employees–even if they do not extend this courtesy to you.

5). Bring cash.
People are often willing to make deals with you if you can pay cash and not credit. Credit card companies don’t only rip off the consumer, they also rip off merchants by taking chunks out of every purchase! So stores love to avoid using credit whenever possible. Take advantage of this and bring a wad of cash with you–this is also rhetorically effective when you say something like, “All I’ve got is Rs. 500!” and throw the two bills down on the counter. And pull your pockets inside out, if you want to get really crazy. Because with credit cards (or checks), numbers are never so finite.

If haggling is an art, then I’m still finger painting. So for those Picasso’s and DaVinci’s out there, don’t be shy. Leave a few strokes of genius :)

Happy Haggling :P

Adios 2009 ! :)

My month long vacations are coming to a close and while I may not have accomplished all those things I really wanted to in my winter break, there’s one thing I certainly did and did quite well and that was- reflecting on all that transpired in the year 2009. At this time of year I am always both happy to see a new year coming and kind of sad to see the old one go . It’s just another day and this year would soon be over. This year flew by huh? Some years seem to inch by. This one didn’t waste any time gettin’ on down! Last year crawled real slow but this one- ah, well, I felt an ability to savour every moment, something I strongly doubted back then but tough times don’t last forever! Do they?? :)

There’s something about this year that I want to hold onto- kinda linger on those lovely memories a little longer and that’s maybe because this year was exactly how I thought it would turn out to be- special and beautiful in its own ways, except for a few odd instances now and then but that’s perfectly alright. I have been blessed with so many wonderful people around me, and in all my endeavours, I have been meeting souls that give so much and make my life a blessing—the more you open up, the more you receive—is really working oh! so well in my case. Before I knew it, a new moment kept popping up, demanding attention. Not sure if that's really a good thing or bad but that kept me busy and as a result of that 2009 was a different experience altogether and all this while I’ve grown in many ways from all those experiences over 365 days and nights, and now, I’m looking forward to 2010 with the same excitement a runner feels looking forward to his next marathon.

2009 was a year of starts but twenty ten will be one of results. There’s gonna be big effort ahead but I’m no less excited by the challenge and the motivation to live up to it. There may be no rhyme or reason to whatever I’m rambling here but certainly there are smiles and laughter that have made this year one that was significant and memorable in its own distinct ways. This one was spent in the moment, one where I never thought too far, for I had too much to be thankful for each new day that had something different, something positive to offer all along. Anyways, now I am hoping that changing of those numbers, doesn’t change much of the stuff in my life ( not for the worse atleast :P ) since I’m actually content with my current state of affairs!

Among others, there’s one thing I learnt and rather practiced well this year & that was to take care of things today – one day at a time- and only then anticipate tomorrow. And believe me, it worked! :) Life is too short to pout about stuff that went wrong and although you can be stuck with problems and hurdles on your way, you can’t really see the beauty God fills your life with - each day, each moment, until we live in “the here & now”. Last night, my family having fallen asleep already, I was standing on our back deck at the stroke of Midnight. I stood there, and it was right there - The moon beckoning from afar – luminous, warm, inviting and that’s when I prayed for the strength and wisdom to approach the coming challenges of this new year. I hope that the moon continues to shine on me and my loved ones giving us the vision to see each new opportunity, and the will and courage to act when necessary (and the understanding on when not too). If everyone endeavors to become better, and do what they can to make life better for those around them, then we can make this world a better place.

Blessings of God are new every morning, so why let the failures of yesterday ruin the beauty of today?? Anyways, now that it’s time once again to ring out the old and ring in the new, so here’s wishing you all a Very Happy New Year, hoping that it fulfills all your secret desires and aspirations turning all your dreams into reality and all your efforts into great achievements!

Shalom!:)

Waiting for the morning sun

I am back. Yes, back in time, tonight. Where to & where from? Well, I took the District line and I'm waiting for my tube to take me from Paddington to Bayswater at 1 in the night. This wait which was fun back then isn't really the same today.It makes me apprehensive and is somehow spooky. Back then, the signs you put right there in front of me indicated that I'm on the appropriate , rather much deserved track. Precisely YOU put them in front of me!! I indeed wished you would and you did. I was insecure going alone out there in the open- all on my own, but you told me that I'll be safe because you were asking me to move. Why is it that something which was right back then, is not the same anymore? You ushered me to my destination, then why do I feel that the signs that are there in front of my eyes today, this morning, somehow bespeak that I should not tread this road any further. How will I reach Bayswater then? Or is that I am not meant to go there at all?

What is it? Should I stop? I guess not, but the picture I have in front of me now clearly connotes that what I look forward to may not be propitious and timely either. Atleast not this time. And I, from my past experience know this well, that if it is not the right time for something to happen, it simply won't work, no matter how hard one tries! To everything there is a season and well, this is "Winters", & I somehow find them gloomy. It's just that I don't see the daylight yet and I'm afraid of the dark. Yes, I am.

And, those of you who are wondering what I'm talking about, please don't bother, for I am not here to explain. Not yet. Reason being- I am myself too muddled to provide you with any clarification , hence, it's better you stay off and avoid any unnecessary interrogation .

It very well might be my hyperactive brain that is the cause of such hazy and unsettled thoughts, but then I don't want to mess up again. No way! This time of the year is way better than what I had expected it to be, and hence if things can't be any better, that's perfectly fine with me, but I don't want them to head towards the worse. I can't deal with it so early. And if at all, this ain't my trail, please don't give me signals to hint like it is. You know best and so I trust you once again.

Birds are chirping already, and its dawn (finally), so while it's time for others to start off afresh, it's time for me to hit the bed and get some sleep before this new day brings me the much awaited answers!

& BTW, I wasn't dreaming...

10 to 1

Yes, that’s how time flies. It was last Wednesday when I was planning out my to-do list for the 10 days long vacation. But after the stressful week that was- it wasn’t much of a list- the only things I wanted to do were mainly these- meeting up with friends and family, eating & most importantly, getting a good sleep. I have accomplished the first two but the last one, aah, can never get enough of it!

But now, its my last day at home before I head back to college once again. Just another few hours in my warm n cozy bed. I seriously don’t wanna leave. But then who will handle the dust ghosts in my hostel room ?? I guess only I'll have to do that. Now since I am already a cleanliness freak and moreover, I enjoy doing that , so that shouldn’t be much of a problem once I get back. The obvious problem here is that my wonderful diwali break has ended [ I know, nothing lasts forever :P] and I am gonna have to get back to the same rigid routine once again. But nevertheless, so far it has been a wonderful week, Sam kept me a great company throughout my stay here, the only annoying part of my stay, however, has been the several dinners , one after the other – 4 days in a row.

If Shivang were to read this, he would have been like- “Annoying what? Dinner ?? She must be kidding!!” Well, I am not. I abhor this one thing so much – unwanted guests at home and then being invited for dinner at their places. You ask them the occasion, & the reply you get is – “Just a get together!” or stranger still –“ Happiness!”.

What?? Did you think my house is a popular vacation spot or something?

Guests at times can be such a nuisance, especially when they rush in with their 5 year olds along with them. The worse part is that you have to affect an artificial smile all the while! It is an imposition at best and at worse annoying! Sometimes its cool, especially when it’s one of your friends or someone in your family, and I wouldn’t mind if they were to drop in even at 12 in the night but other than that, it’s usually a pain in the backside!

It’s hard to keep your sanity intact at such times...

Anyways, it’s time for me to go do some packing and also catch up with Sam. All in all, it was a very relaxing and a laid-back holiday, just short of a much needed visit to D'Dun which as of now, is due for December :) Apart from the surprises that I'm expecting this week & unfortunately cannot avoid , there are also going to be some really intersting tasks which I & another friend of mine plan to accomplish as soon as possible & so, here I come... ;)

Nobel call for action

The image of the US is in the finest shape it's been in a very long time, and that's because the rest of the world believes in the kind of leadership President Obama is bringing to his task. But there’s been a lot of debate lately- whether Prez really deserves the Nobel Prize conferred upon him?

According to many, the problem with this recent reward is that it has been awarded at a time when Obama's presidency had not resulted in any concrete results so far. Moreover, as a matter of fact the nomination for the same had concluded when it wasn’t even one month after his inauguration.

Many politicians and scholars have contested that the prestigious prize should not be awarded for simply creating hope for a better future but for the goals that have been achieved and a difference made for the better. But isn’t hope the blueprint for change?? Some even said that Obama won because he was the first black US president. But don’t you think that’s enough of race-card playing here, it’s getting boring!

Obama has given hope not only to the USA but to many in the world. He did not apply or ask for the Nobel Peace prize, he was awarded it for his efforts and aspirations. He has already begun to advance peace, dialogue & inclusiveness of other cultures and these are the sorts of things the world wants to see him moving towards.

The Bush’s loyalists are probably hypocritical for sneering — with absolutely no recognition of their own culpability — that Mr. Obama has not yet ended the wars in Afghanistan and in Iraq. But for God’s sake, eight years of equivocal games and strategy errors don’t just end in nine months!! What more do you expect a Prez to do in a time span that short?

Yes, it’s easy to poke fun, but Obama is a huge figure in world politics & I think he deserved it for what he has accomplished already.

The pundits are wrong when they say that speeches do not matter. On the contrary, words by definition are the clearest expression of one's intentions, of one's hopes. Like Elie Wiesel, once said- "Words can sometimes, in moments of grace, attain the quality of deeds."

The words Obama has spoken across the globe since his inauguration are evidence of what the Norwegian Nobel Committee called his "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples." So those of you who believe that an industrial-scale output of ozone-destroying vaporous liberal rhetoric now makes him a Nobel Laureate, then yeah, you got it right!! It does. But that is not all!

It has been his humane, honest and sincere approach to the world issues including peace, right from the start of his social and political deliberations, before and after becoming President of the USA, that has won him national and now international accolade. His life so far has been one achievement after another. And I for one, certainly appreciate the fact that this man has carried his values with him all the way to the White House and that’s the reason he’s reached where he is today.

By awarding Obama the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize, the Committee probably recognized the fact that the beginning of any comprehensive effort to repair and heal our troubled world is as important, and requires as much vision and moral leadership, and can be as dauntingly complex as its eventual realization.

And in Barack Obama’s own words- this Peace Prize is yet another "call for action”. Indeed!!

Down in the mouth

Today is one of those days which is sucking all vitality and energy out of me. It is rough . It is depressing. Something just doesn’t feel right. And what’s worse- I am still not able to figure out what exactly is it that has got me into this sullen disposition all of a sudden. I’m in this slump right now, getting out of which somehow seems difficult. I know it's a temporary phase, and I'll be done with it soon, but at this very moment I’ve so many thoughts at the back of my mind- some distressing, some baffling , and yet others which are way too intricate for me to arrive at any conclusion atleast at this moment in time. But who knows when you're asked to act upon your pick ??

Choice is Power and Choice is at the heart of life & yet, it's so perplexing sometimes, because you can't see further than a choice you don't yet understand. Guess, as of now, I just need to give it some time to let the answers float in. And that understanding will still take a lot of thought, a lot of introspection, and so perhaps, a lot of time too. Life’s weird and confusing sometimes. I think it’s just another extended phase of mixed results. Who knows? Am I even making any sense? I dont know and at the moment, I don’t even care.

As of now, all I know is that I’m having this big roller coaster ride of all those thoughts and feelings which don’t seem to leave me at all, not even for a moment. Such bad timing, I tell you!! Sometimes it’s relatively easy to ride through the storm, other times you just feel like your head will explode. Even when you have this urge to explain it to someone- you can’t and you refrain from doing it, because you know that you just have yourself to try and find the truth on your own path, in your own way.

Anyways, I am just waiting for this Thursday [badly, madly & sadly] so that I can finally go back to my hometown and spend some quality time with my family. It's really been a long time...Missing home so very much for the first time in my three months' stay here:(

Birthday Candy :)

This is a blog post to express my heartfelt gratitude to all these wonderful people who made my birthday today so very special - especially Rohit, Abhi n Apoorv for such splendid arrangements! Right from the conf. call at 12 in the night to the birthday party @ Shipra , from the lovely birthday presents to your thoughtful birthday wishes- Thank you guys for all your efforts & how can I forget the cake!! :P
I have to admit this - it was the BEST chocolate cake I’ve had in a really long time :)

My day today started off quite well with a call from parents wishing me happy birthday! The first call was actually at 5 in the morning which actually went unattended since I retired to bed quite late last night, around 3 I guess. [All thanks to my amazing friends in the hostel]. And obviously when three alarms at a time can’t push me off the bed, how then could a call do so ? But to my Dad’s surprise I eventually picked up the phone when he called the second time.

This was followed by other calls from some close friends , a bath , a hot coffee which I shared with Sharni (Yes, I needed it badly to keep my eyes wide open) and then eventually heading off for the P&C class (all in the course of some 40 minutes) only to be given a lecture on how important it is to have good listening skills in order to maintain a great over view of your status or standing. Nevertheless, it was better than having an EC lecture right in the morning! After the next class we headed off to Shipra- a much needed outing after the stressful T1’s and needless to say, the afternoon was absolute fun . Giving Annapurna a break, all of us went to Papa John’s where to my surprise, some pleasant arrangements had been done already. And Vaidik that reminds me- the next time any one of us needs the ID-Cards arranged, I’m gonna recommend you right away:P

Many a newspaper stories from days gone by were concluded with the words, “and a good time was had by all”. I certainly think this sentiment applies to the fantastic birthday that I had today & my special day was made all the more wonderful- thanks to the slew of lovely birthday wishes that came from my batchmates! Utsav wanted me to say something about each one of us present there but I didn’t since 1)- We did something similar on our previous outing & 2)- I probably don’t know everyone so well as the rest, but there’s this one thing I know for sure that it was one of my best birthdays & I truly appreciate the efforts made by all of you!

So thank you so much guys ( Rohit, Apoorv, Abhi, Pearl, Yasheeka, Utsav, Vaidik, Tushar[treat due], Akshita, Kanika, Sharni & Mayank ) for such a fantastic time I had with you all!!

The best part of my day was yet to come- everyone I’m sure overheard our favourite & one and only- Mrs. Papia Chaudhary in the lab this evening :D She just made my day!!! :( Alright! Those of you who were present in the lab and are reading this at the moment, can please stop grinning now! It’s ok to get a scolding once in a while [ that was after a long while actually] . Ain’t it??

My outing with the family actually more than made up for the amazing two hours I had in the lab! And then the gift from my bro later that evening was something I’d been looking for since long and once I discovered what it was- I was simply beatific! Instant Smile :) He gave me this beautiful Idol of Ganpati- two days before the Ganesh Mahotsav ends! Don’t know when would it actually be possible but I truly hope that someday I can get to witness this event for myself!

Anyways, with that I spent some quiet time last evening reflecting on my recent past where each moment was filled with so many lessons that I needed to learn in order to grow as an individual. The deep truths can be taken away from any hour provided we wish to. Here are a few things that the last one year has taught me...

First, no matter how it turns out, it always ends up just the way it should be. Either you succeed or you learn something. Win-Win!
Second, in life it’s not about getting a chance, it’s about taking a chance. You’ll rarely be 100% sure something will work. But you can always be 100% sure that doing nothing won’t work. Sometimes you just have to go for it. And even though you think you can’t you can always press forward. It’s just a matter of wanting it bad enough.

Third, having a thousand credentials on the wall will not make you a decent human being. But amongst other things, genuinely helping even a single person whenever possible will! For even when you feel like you have nothing, someone else likely has far less. Just find them and help them n you’ll see why.
And last but not the least, happiness is a choice [sometimes amongst the hardest in life] that we must all try to make each moment in life, because life is highly unpredictable & we need to make the most outta it. At times, its hard- extremely hard, seems like its almost impossible, but if you chase it, you’ll eventually get it. I did!

I think I've had a pretty good run so far and have had the opportunity to experience some great things and meet some amazing people in life, but I believe that my best years are ahead of me and life has so much to offer and I have so much more to learn from it. It's important to believe in bigger things for ourselves. Whether you're a 6 year old child or an adult, it's important to continue thinking about your possibilities on a regular basis.

Ok-Ok! I know it’s getting boring and I’m already too sleepy [sleep deprived for the past 2 weeks] so I’ll just leave you with this one question-
“How Old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are??”

Answers anyone? :)

Travesty of National Spirit

The truth is out. The beans are spilt by the dissidents.

While time owes it to the nation to set records straight, I wish it were done in a more honourable and statesmanlike manner.

Last week, expulsion of Jaswant Singh from Bhartiya Janta Party had hit the headlines. According to the party members, he has been sacked because of his deviation from party ideologies.

Jaswant Singh has always been known for his moderate political opinions and liberal thoughts. He had been associated with the party for more than 30 years through its thick and thin, through its various forays, downfall and even resurrection to power when he had served the country as its Finance Minister. His new book "Jinnah: India-Partition-Independence" could not go down too well with the rest of the party members as he tried to put forward an opinion which is a lot different from their perception of the history of Indian Independence. A mere criticism of what happened then and what led to the partition of India turned into an acerbic debate and mud slinging and the writings of the man who tried to show them another side of the same story became a sacrilege leading to his expulsion!!

Both the countries have still not been able to come to make peace with the reality, past and therefore they still keep blaming each other. But is it justified to let your beliefs and loyalty to party ideologies take a toll on your freedom of expression or is it even justified to just overlook what he has done for the party in the last 30 years on whimsical grounds of labeling him as less national or less responsible to the nation??

In my opinion the whole drama is indeed shameful!

Jaswant Singh was one of the main pillars of BJP. Even in the tough time he was standing tall supporting the Party. But somewhere in my mind I strongly feel that the court marshal done was all an impulsive decision and they will regret this soon. Wonder if BJP is all set to become history?

In our country politicians are in continuous search for any loophole left by the ruling party so that they can stand against them and in this letting down each other, the betterment of country seems lost somewhere.

Shouldn’t the loyalty of elected representatives of the people be towards the country first, and only then towards their party??

I guess, we have become a cynical nation which no longer expects from our leaders statesmanship, honesty and dedication to the nation…

Special times...

I’m totally overwhelmed and elated at this point in time…Whyy?? Well, one major reason is obviously the fact that I am back home & relieved of the stress after giving those awful tests- especially the one for which I appeared today, and “awful” because the night before the exam when every one else had literally locked themselves in their respective rooms and were engrossed in their books, I was the one chatting with my friends and laughing like a maniac [Other than this instance, I don’t remember having done that in a really long while now] at about 3 in the morning.

Actually, Sharni cracked a hilarious joke and all of us burst into a fit of laughter that lasted for half an hour straight! It was so comical and freaky that even this morning when the examiner handed over the question paper, we started giggling again at the sight of it! Left the examination hall 10 minutes early and once again- laughing !! I remember the look on the face of this other guy from my batch who I guess was trying to figure out the cause of this idiosyncratic behaviour.

The exam obviously didn’t go as I’d expected but nonetheless, last night was the best I’ve had in H1 [ without any H1N1 scare either :D ] so far and certainly the one that I can never ever forget in times to come. Seriously, it was sooo much fun & even though I’m back home, I missing you guys a lot and missing the cafeteria all the more :P There are many well-loved folks out here whose mere sight is something I cannot stand , it’s like there’s some sort of energy that repels me immediately and even though it’s hard to spot nice people in general, after four good weeks of probe and some disappointment ;) I’ve been lucky enough to figure out these select few in my college [my batch actually] whose personal tastes and preferences fortunately don’t reflect the lifestyle of a typical coddled, self-indulgent Delhite and I believe that these guys [Sharni, Mayank, Rohit , Abhi n Pearl] are distinct atleast in the sense that they are true to their selves- no pretense- no façade, just being what they truly are! It’s one thing to say that we are all unique, but actually being distinct is farther than that.

Anyways, that reminds me of this beautiful composition by Celine Dion-

“In these moments, moments of our lives
All the world is ours
And this world is so right
You and I sharing this time together
Sharing the same dream
As the time goes by we will find

These are the special times
Times we'll remember
These are the precious times
The tender times we'll hold in our hearts forever

These are the sweetest times
These times together
And through it all, one thing will always be true
The special times are the times I share with you

With each moment, moment passing by
We'll make memories that will last all our lives
As you and I travel through time together
Living this sweet dream
And every day we can say

These are the special times
Times we'll remember
These are the precious times
The tender times we'll hold in our hearts forever

These are the sweetest times
These times together
And through it all, one thing will always be true
The special times are the times I share with you….”

I’m just hoping that this new found happiness lasts a long way...

Idea of being human

Finally!! This weekend allows me some time to get back to my blog- something I’d long been waiting to do. With my current routine which I believe is only gonna persist and gonna become more rigid with time, my posts here or elsewhere are gonna be contemptibly limited. In the past one week alone, there have been several occasions when I had this spur to write about things that I felt are relevant ruminating upon and more so, the things which were relatively trivial but now that I’ve more consequential stuff keeping me busy, this whole blogging business is gonna take a backseat.

Anyways, this post is in response to SUNDAY SCRIBBLINGS #170 and is something that has always been at the back of my mind.


What does it mean to be human??

At the change of millennia, our specifically human ability to ask this question has kept me wondering for a long time. But now I somewhat have the clue to one of the most essential questions facing each one of us born on this planet.

When I think about what it means to be human many images come into view. One image that makes me really aware is what happens when a rock or pebble is thrown into the water, creating ripples that go on and on. What it means to be human is to be impacted by the ripples that are coming from people elsewhere. Being human means knowing that we are both at the center and on the edge of those ripples, that have the capacity to impact and be impacted by others in many ways.

It is seeing yourself in others. It is understanding the art of me, the art of we. It is being able to smile, to sing, to feel, to bring out the gifts of creation, to think out loud, to be in love and know that we can be loving. It is to appreciate every drop of water. It is to feel the warmth of the sun and to marvel at the beauty and the expanse of the night sky. It is to stand in awe of who we are and where we live. It is to see the earth with the eyes of an astronaut. To be human is to be aware of our dependence upon the whole of the universe and of the miracle that we are. In other words, being able to understand our own insignificance in the totality of things. It is to recognize those cultural perspectives that bind us to tribe, sect, religion or nation and to rise above them- to feel the pain of the dispossessed & the downtrodden.

It is to recognize good and evil and choose good. It is to consider with the heart and to act with conscience.It is to choose the path of compassion, rather than the path of complacency. It is to find ourselves behind our names- to explore the depths and boundaries of our existence; to learn from those who have preceded us and to act with due concern for those who will follow us.

We are all born with the potential to become human. How we choose to live will be the measure of our humanness. Civilization does not assure civility. Nor does being born into the human species. We must each tread our own path in order to find the answer to this central question which concerns and affects each and every one of us.